Ackerman was founded in 1811 and this year celebrates its bicentenary. It was the first of the Saumur sparkling wine houses to be established. During this year's Salon des Vins Loire the company launched a book that covers the company's history written by Goeffrey Ratouis. 

Further details when I have had a chance to read the book.

Update: 23.20

Got well stuck into this on the QueasyJet flight to Lisbon this evening. Clear that while this might be the bicentennary of the association between Jean-Baptiste Ackerman and Jean-Pierre Laurance, it is certainly not the bicentennary of sparkling wine from Ackerman. Ratouis concludes that Jean-Baptiste was not making sparkling wine in commercial quantities until 1845, although Ackerman can have the distinction of being the first sparkling wine house of Saumur. 

 Photo display projected onto wall of the entrance 

Taille Princesse white and rosé on ice

Last Monday I was at a special soirée organised by Bouvet-Ladubay at their premises in Saint-Florent Saint Hilaire, which is just to the west of Saumur and the historical centre of sparkling wine production in Saumur. The evening starting with a glass or two of Taille Princess, white and rosé. This sparkling wine was created by actor Gérard Depardieu, who owns Château de Tigné in the Layon, and Patrice Monmousseau, the president directeur-general of Bouvet and this week's mystery man.

We then moved through the cellars where we were entertained by a series of trapeze, tight rope etc. performers before moving onto dinner. During dinner we were joined by the band that had played earlier on in the evening. Patrice 'Miles' Monmousseau was breifly content with conducting using a knife before grabbing a trumpet and joining in.

Other members of the band:

Blow hard!

Serious business this music!